ORLANDO, Fla. — Before the Magic take on the Hornets on Friday night at Kia Center, coach Jamal Mosley said Charlotte’s 10-20 record is not indicative of what the team is capable of accomplishing.
Mosley made it clear that Orlando needs to focus on the little things to ensure the desired results against a Southeastern Conference opponent for the second time this season.
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He is not wrong on both counts.
The Magic trailed by as many as 15 points in the first half and as many as 24 in the third quarter before Charlotte exited a sold-out Kia Center 120-105, outrebounding Orlando 53-42 and scoring 25 second-chance points.
Charlotte (11-20) had seven players score in double figures, including 22 points from star LaMelo Ball. The Hornets made 19 of 39 three-pointers (48.7%).
In contrast, Orlando shot 11-for-35 (31.4%) from long range. The offense was not easy, and the team was unable to produce the necessary defense to achieve a comeback.
The Magic (17-14) return to Kia Center on Saturday for the second game of a back-to-back, with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic and the Nuggets (who beat Orlando by 11 points on Dec. 18) making their only trip to Central Florida this season.
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Start 5
The Magic were again without Franz Wagner (left high ankle sprain) and Jalen Suggs (bruised left hip), with Tyus Jones and Anthony Blake remaining in the starting lineup against the Hornets along with Paulo Banchero, Desmond Bane and Wendell Carter Jr. (16 points).
Black, who has scored 19 or more points in his past four games, scored 15 in the first half and hit his first three 3-pointers. He hit his fourth three-pointer in the fourth quarter and scored 24 points in 36 minutes.
While Black had some success from distance, Bane and Banchero did not. Before halftime, the two made 0 of 4 three-pointers and ended up 0 of 8.
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Bane drove to the basket early and scored 10 points in the half, but he was responsible for all three of Orlando’s first-quarter turnovers. He ended up with 15 points.
Banchero missed his first three shots, went 1-for-5 in the opening frame, and couldn’t find his footing all night. The Magic forward scored 13 points on 4-of-13 shooting in 31 minutes.
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Tristan DaSilva has missed the past four games with a bruised right shoulder and the Magic upgraded him from possible to available earlier in the day.
The second-year pro finished with eight points and two assists.
Charlotte’s bench beat Orlando’s bench 41-29.
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Reserve center Goga Bitadze (left knee strain) missed his second straight game.
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Jace Richardson and Noah Penda came on in the first quarter but were unable to make an early offensive impact.
Penda missed his first three shots, including two 3-pointers, and played eight minutes in the first three frames. Richardson hit a three-pointer late in the third quarter and scored 14 points in 22 minutes.
Hornets No. 4 pick Con Knupper scored 16 points, but did not return in the second half due to a right ankle injury.
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The Magic provided a variety of gifts to local families at halftime of Friday’s game as part of NBA Cares’ season of giving.
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With the help of President of Business Operations Charlie Freeman and Magic Community Ambassador Bo Outlaw, the team gifted the family of four a new 2026 Kia Sorento EX, $5,000 worth of home furnishings from AdventHealth, a year of family meals from Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, a three-day and two-night stay at Caribe Royale, four one-year Chick fil-A packages, a cell phone and three wireless devices provided by Total Wireless tablets for the service, a free ice cube of Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream for the Cream Party, four gift sets from hair tie company Teleties, a 65-inch TV, an air fryer, a KitchenAid mixer, pots and pans, arts and crafts and other household necessities to help them get through these difficult times.
This marks the 17th consecutive season that the Magic have hosted a family for “The Big Give” during the holidays.